Farm to Gold Ghee

I was somewhat recently introduced to Ayurveda, an ancient system of holistic healing from India. I only learned some of the basics, but I always love to hear about different ideas on holistic health. Right around the same time I came across Farm to Gold Ghee. Ghee is a big staple in Ayurveda, so it almost felt like I was meant to give it a try. 

A brief little blurb about ghee - ghee is a healthy fat made from butter. It is cooked to remove all the milk solids, water, and impurities, leaving a lactose-free, casein-free, shelf stable cooking oil. It is great as a cooking oil or as a spread on anything really. For more info about ghee, specifically Farm to Gold Ghee, click here.

So I decided to give this ghee a try. I started using it in the place of olive or coconut oil. I cooked vegetables, eggs, French toast, you name it in this ghee. So what did I think? It was wonderful! It seriously opens up a whole new world of taste! Sauteed veggies were now infinitely better. Fried eggs were so tasty! It really truly added a whole new, delicious flavor dimension. 

Who would I recommend ghee to? Everyone honestly. It is delicious, and I really can't imagine someone not liking it. It's paleo-friendly, lactose-free, and just overall healthy. The only people who wouldn't want it are vegans because it is still an animal product, but it is the perfect fit for most ways of eating out there. I really recommend giving it a try!

Manna Organics - Sprouted for Life

I wanted to start 2016 out with something that I felt really passionately about, and there's no better way to do that than with Manna Organics. 

A couple of months ago I stumbled upon the company Manna Organics. I was initially attracted because they had sprouted grain bread, which I had tried from other companies before. But Manna was different. They had everything from multi-grain to carrot raisin, not to mention gluten free and sour dough breads. 

But Manna isn't just a bread company. They have organic nut butters, kale chips, and other snacks. So I pretty much wanted to eat the whole food index, but I decided to start with some of their sprouted bread that initially drew me in and their toasted coconut cashew Manna butter. 

The sprouted grain bread is nothing like other sprouted breads I've tried before. With other breads, they're pretty similar to a standard loaf of bread. Manna sprouted bread is more of a cake-like consistency. It's more moist and a little sweeter which lends itself perfectly to some of their amazing flavors. It's vegan and yeast free with no salt, oils, sweeteners, or leavening agents. I've only tried the carrot raisin and multigrain so far, and they are both phenomenal. I have every intention of trying a different flavor each time that I go to the super market, but I've been having some trouble steering away from these two because they're just that delicious! I've used them to make French toast (highly recommended), as toast on the side of soup, and topped with some nut butter as a part of breakfast. You really can't go wrong with this bread.

Which brings me to the Manna butter. I've had plenty of nut butters, and I've also had coconut butters. But I haven't had anything quite like the coconut cashew Manna Butter. I don't feel like I can even put into words just how good it is. It's a delicious cashew butter with actual pieces of coconut in it. It is the perfect combination of salty and sweet and pairs so well with the carrot raisin bread. I could eat that combination every day. 

So would I recommend Manna Organics? I think the answer is pretty obvious - of course! Their products are delicious, healthy, and organic. They have something for everyone whether you're vegan, gluten free, or have no food restrictions. You will find something, and trust me you will love it!

Essentially Coconut - It's Like a Vacation in a Jar

I recently had the pleasure of getting my hands on a few flavors of Essentially Coconut's coconut butters. They are made from coconut meat and nuts (minus the original coconut flavor), and that's about it. This is exactly what caught my eye about them. They're made in small batches with straight the point ingredients. I'm starting to feel overcome with emotions to slather some on an RxBar as I write this because these coconut butters have no B.S. 

I tried the original coconut flavor and the sweet almond flavor. They are the consistency of coconut oil, so at room temperature (especially in the fall/winter weather) they're hard. You can easily soften them by running the jar under warm water, or my go to trick is putting them in a mug of hot water to soften while I cook the rest of my meal. 

I had each flavor multiple ways, on the breakfast wrap pictured above, in yogurt, in a smoothie, on waffles. So what's my verdict? Drop everything and go order some right now! These coconut butters are life changingly delicious. Skip the syrup on your pancakes and waffles, slather some on a piece of toast, even add it to your coffee. These are amazing. They add the perfect sweetness without the processed junk.

The coconut flavor adds a nice sweetness that pairs well with almost anything. And the sweet almond flavor is a great nut butter replacement. I actually REALLY loved it paired with pumpkin spiced waffles. But they'd both be good as a sweetener, syrup, or nut butter replacement in basically anything.

All in all, the only reason I would say don't buy these is if you don't like coconut because, well, duh they're made out of coconuts. But otherwise I give two thumbs up to these delightfully tasty coconut butters. 

If you'd like to learn more about Essentially Coconut's story and products you can go to their website here. 

RXBAR - No B.S.

The first thing that caught my attention about the RXBAR was the packaging. I love that it flat out lists the ingredients right there. They clearly aren't hiding anything in these bars, and that is amazing given all of the processed, well, everything out there right now. These bars are non GMO and contain no dairy, soy, or gluten. They're also paleo and Whole 30 friendly. And to top it all off, they finish it off with No B.S. as one of the ingredients. So I pretty much knew I had to try them.

I decided to go for a sample pack of all the flavors: apple cinnamon, chocolate sea salt, pumpkin spice, blueberry, coconut chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee chocolate, and I worked my way through each one.

Needless to say, I am impressed. Every single flavor tastes like it's labeled. Apple cinnamon tastes like fall in your mouth, blueberry tastes like a blueberry muffin, and pumpkin spice tastes like pumpkin pie (which I'm so happy I had on Halloween), Their ingredients speak for themselves. They're simple, straightforward, and delicious. Plus they're easy and great for fueling or refueling pre or post-workout.

So who should eat RXBARs? I don't think they're a bad choice for anyone. I think they're great for athletes or anyone who works out. But they would really work for anybody as a quick on the go snack or meal. The limited, straight forward ingredients would be a good addition to anybody's (who doesn't have allergies or other ailments towards any of the ingredients) diet.  They're a great source of protein and other nutrients. I'd highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in trying them.

If you want to find out more about RXBAR, how to order them, or where to find them click here.

WrawPs - Gluten Free, Raw, Vegan Wraps

I was on a sandwich-making spree and dreaming about lunch one day when I literally thought to myself, "I wish that wraps were made out of veggies". I was so sick of either eating a ton of bread or tortillas or feeling too guilty about eating all of that bread to make another sandwich. I'm not anti-carbs by any means, but eating a lot of flour or corn products can really add up. Unfortunately, I don't really know how to make a wrap out of vegetables, but lucky for me I realized that I was following this company WrawP. That is a true story, not a very good one, but it's what happened. So of course, I needed them.

WrawPs are all natural, vegan, raw, paleo, gluten free wraps. They are made with mostly vegetables, fruits, seasonings, and other great, healthy ingredients like flax. They come in a number of different savory and sweet flavors from spicy to energizing morning to original. They are intended to replace carb filled flour and corn products. If you'd like more information about them, check out their website.

I tried one and have been hooked every since. So far I've used them for tacos, flatbreads/pizzas, burritos, wraps, and even in the place of a hotdog bun, and they've yet to disappoint. You can check out a couple of my recipes over on the recipes tab. They are really perfect for anything you'd use bread, wraps, tortillas, pizza crust, and even chips for. 

So do they really taste good? Honestly, yes. I really enjoy them. They are a great component to all of the meals I've listed above. They add a nice flavor without being overwhelming. The consistency is a bit tougher than an average wrap, but that doesn't compromise the taste at all. There are even a few flavors that are more like fruit leather if you're hesitant about the vegetable, savory ones (I plan to fill one up with some greek yogurt, berries, and granola later this week)! 

Who should buy WrawPs? I'd really say everyone. Do I think it's bad to eat bread or standard wraps? No, but I think it's great to have a healthy alternative that packs in a lot of nutrients, vegetables, and fruit. They're great for anybody, and they're definitely fun to play around with.

Let me know if you've tried WrawPs in the comments below and what you thought of them!